See Also

Fast Facts

Was inspired to pursue acting after seeing 2001: A Space Odyssey with his parents in 1969.

Was roommates with Christopher Reeve at New York's Juilliard School and the two remained close friends.

His stream-of-consciousness comedy was a hit in San Francisco before he moved to Los Angeles to pursue television.

Big break came when cast as an alien on Happy Days in 1978; his character, Mork, was spun off into the hit series Mork & Mindy.

Made a disastrous film debut in Robert Altman's misfire Popeye in 1980 but rebounded with stellar performances in The World According to Garp and Good Morning, Vietnam, for which he received his first Oscar nomination; won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Good Will Hunting.

Returned to stand-up roots in 2004 and entertained troops in Iraq.

Appeared in six films in 2006, including The Night Listener and Night at the Museum.

Postponed his one-man show, Weapons of Self-Destruction, to undergo heart surgery in March 2009, but toured in September.

Awards

1991, Golden Globe — Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: Nominee

1988, Grammy — Best Recording for Children: Winner

2002, Grammy — Best Spoken Comedy Album: Winner

2003, Emmy — Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: Nominee

1988, Grammy — Best Comedy Recording: Winner

1988, Emmy — Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: Winner

1987, Oscar — Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Nominee

1979, Grammy — Best Comedy Recording: Winner

1989, Oscar — Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Nominee

1987, Grammy — Best Comedy Recording: Winner

1979, Golden Globe — Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: Winner

2003, Emmy — Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: Nominee

1979, Emmy — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Nominee

1980, Golden Globe — Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: Nominee

1993, Golden Globe — Special Achievement: Winner

1987, Emmy — Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: Winner

2005, Golden Globe — Cecil B. DeMille Award: Winner

1990, Golden Globe — Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: Nominee

1997, Oscar — Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Winner

1996, Emmy — Outstanding Performance for a Variety or Music Program: Nominee

1991, Oscar — Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Nominee

1994, Golden Globe — Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: Winner

1992, Golden Globe — Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: Winner

Relationships

Robert Williams — Father

Zelda Williams — Daughter

Laurie Williams — Mother

Zachary Williams — Son

Cody Alan Williams — Son

Marsha Garces Williams — Ex-wife

Todd Williams — Half Brother

Susan Schneider — Wife

Valeria Velardi — Ex-wife

College

Attended Claremont Men's College, Claremont, California, United States; attended College of Marin, Kentfield, California, United States; attended the Juilliard School, New York, New York, United States